Moqtada al-Sadr Announces Boycott of Upcoming Elections for These Reasons
Iraqi National Movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr announced on Thursday that he will not participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, citing the presence of “corruption and corrupt individuals” as the reason behind his decision.
When asked about his stance on participating in the elections, al-Sadr stated: “Let it be known to everyone: as long as corruption exists, I will not take part in any electoral process.” He added that elections do not address the suffering of the people and are instead focused solely on sectarian and partisan interests.
Al-Sadr called on the popular base of Sadrist supporters within the National Movement to refrain from voting in the upcoming elections, emphasizing his reliance on their obedience. He explained that just as he once instructed them to vote, he is now forbidding them from doing so.
He further stressed that there is no benefit in participating alongside what he described as corrupt individuals and Baathists, at a time when Iraq is “taking its last breaths.” He pointed out that foreign influence and deep-state forces dominating all state institutions have effectively dismantled the country.
Earlier, multiple sources reported that various political blocs, representing different affiliations and factions, had sent envoys to Najaf in an attempt to gauge al-Sadr’s position on participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
It is worth noting that al-Sadr had previously decided in June 2022 to withdraw from Iraq’s political process and refrain from participating in any future elections. This decision followed his call for the resignation of all 73 Sadrist MPs from parliament.
